Chapter 2
Chapter Two
It was Emily Miller’s twenty-third birthday. She hadn’t told her roommate. Instead, she’d risen early to go for a run around the university campus. The morning air was cool, but she knew it wouldn’t be long before it heated up. She’d been living in the dormitory for four months now, having started there in July for second semester.
She ran down the footpath to the quadrangle and then out through the arches to the street beyond. Birds erupted into song as the sun edged its way up the sky. The colourful sunrise hung over the ocean, although she couldn’t see the water from where she was. She knew it was there—the scent of it hung in the air.
The idea of being a midwife had been sparked while she was working as the live-in carer for Joanna Gilston in the tiny hamlet of Sunshine on Bribie Island. But she hadn’t really believed she could do it—surely it was for people who were academic. She wasn’t particularly bookish, and there were prerequisites she hadn’t completed. She hadn’t studied a thing since high school, which had finished five years earlier.
It would be a difficult study program to undertake. But the university had allowed her to enrol in the prerequisite subjects this semester so she could begin her midwifery program in the new year. And so far, she was grateful to take this approach, given how much work was expected of her.
It’d already been harder than she’d been prepared for. The workload had been something of a shock those first few weeks. She was getting the hang of it now, although she still found it overwhelming at times. Thankfully, it was November, and the semester was almost over. Soon, she’d be able to take a break over the summer before her coursework started in earnest.
She finished up her five kilometres and then returned to the dorm. Taking the stairs three at a time, she was puffing hard when she reached the door to their shared room. She opened the door and was greeted by a group of girls wearing party hats. Several of them shot streamers at her, which made her jump.
“Surprise!”
“Happy birthday!”
She laughed. “Thank you. You guys are crazy!”
There was cake, even though it was far too early for that much sugar, in Emily’s opinion. But the girls in the dorm ranged in age from seventeen to twenty-one, and they still thought cake with a thick layer of buttercream frosting was a valid breakfast option. And today, she was happy to join them.
A knock at the door interrupted the festivities. Emily opened it to find Aaron standing on the threshold with a bunch of flowers in one hand and a gift in the other. He smiled at her, and her breath caught in her throat. He was still the most handsome man she’d ever known.
She flew into his arms, and he laughed as he tried not to drop the flowers or gift. He came into the dorm room to shouts of welcome from the girls who were there. They’d turned up the volume on some music, and a few of them were dancing. Someone shot streamers over the couple.
She sat on a chair to open the gift. It was a leather shoulder bag she’d spied when they were shopping a few weeks earlier but hadn’t wanted to spend the money on.
“Oh, I love it!” she said as she leaned in to kiss him on the lips.
“I’m glad,” he said. “I thought it might help you carry everything to class.”
“It definitely will. It’s so beautiful, though. I hate to get it dirty.”
“That’s what it’s for,” he replied.
She added the flowers to a vase with water. By that time, most of the girls had left for their first class of the morning. Her roommate, Madison Paxton, filled her own bag with books.
“I hope you have a good day, birthday girl,” she said.
“Thanks, Madi. I’m sure it’ll be fine, although I’m not looking forward to my bio class, since we have a test.”
“You’ll ace it, I’m certain. Bye. See you later, Aaron.” She grinned as she ducked through the doorway.
Emily turned to Aaron and nestled against his chest. He wound his arms around her. “Alone at last.”
She groaned. “I’m sorry, but I have to go as well. I’ve got a full schedule today. I’ll be late if I don’t get moving.”
He grunted. “Of course you do. And I’ve got to get to work. I hate this. We never see each other anymore.”
“Now that we’re not living in the same house, you mean?” She curled her hands around his neck and gazed into his eyes.
“Yes, it’s the worst. I loved that I could see you every day.”
“Even if you couldn’t kiss me?”
He laughed. “The anticipation was half the fun.”
“Well, I’m sorry I have to go. I’d much rather stay here with you. And if I didn’t have that quiz, I would.”
“I don’t want you to miss any of your classes. I know how hard it’s been to get back into the swing of studying.”
“Yes, and I want to get good results. I’m determined to be a better student than I was in high school.”
“I think you’re already better,” he replied. “I remember you used to ditch class a lot.”
“Me? I think you’re confusing the two of us,” she replied with mock indignation.
“Oh, that’s right. It was me. Not you,” he said with a laugh.
She kissed him again and felt the familiar rush of passion climb up her body. Then she reluctantly let go and hurried to pack her new shoulder bag.
“I’m so excited to give up the backpack. I’ll look so much more professional with this,” she said.
He smiled. “You look very professional, and sexy.”
She laughed. “Will I see you again soon?”
He kissed her. “Don’t make any plans for dinner tonight.”
“Where are we going?”
He grinned. “It’s a surprise.”
“How should I dress?”
“In something you don’t mind getting sand on.”
“We’re going to the beach?”
“Our favourite spot,” he replied as he opened the door to her room then blew her a kiss.
“Bye,” she called after him.